Pulse below 50 with normal blood pressure. Causes of low heart rate

The pulse shows how rhythmically the heart muscle contracts. Normal values ​​for an adult are 65–85 beats/min. Any deviations are a sign of disruption of the heart under the influence of negative external and internal factors. Often there is a sharp slowdown in heart rate - a rare pulse, and the causes of this pathology can be very dangerous.

Causes of bradycardia

Important! Rare pulse (bradycardia) – a decrease in indicators in an adult below 60 units. The pathology does not depend on blood pressure, but is more common in hypotensive patients.

A rare pulse does not always indicate the presence of pathologies. Indicators may decrease with changing weather conditions, prolonged stay in a cool room or cold water. Often this phenomenon is hereditary in nature, occurs due to overwork, lack of physical activity, and always accompanies the aging of the body.

Why does the pulse become rare:

• physiological reasons - a decrease in indicators is observed at rest, during sleep, low pulse always occurs in the morning;
• pathological bradycardia – develops against the background of changes in the conduction functions of the heart;
• organic myocardial lesions – post-infarction state, ischemia;
• endocrine disruptions, disorders of the thyroid gland;
• tumors of various origins in the brain, high intracranial pressure;
• infectious diseases, severe types of intoxication;
• neuroses, stress, physical and mental fatigue.

Often a low pulse is a consequence of long-term drug therapy. The heart rate slows down during VSD, heart attack, and electrolyte imbalance.

With absolute bradycardia, heart rate indicators do not depend on any factors - a person’s rare pulse is constant. Relative bradycardia occurs in professional athletes and develops against the background of typhus, meningitis, and febrile conditions.

How does pulse correlate with blood pressure readings?

Bradycardia is diagnosed in hypertensive, hypotensive and people with normal blood pressure.

A rare pulse with normal pressure does not greatly affect a person’s general well-being. This type of bradycardia occurs in people who regularly exercise, especially if the training involves intense aerobic exercise. If, in this condition, severe weakness occurs, dizziness, nausea occurs, the reasons lie in congenital or acquired cardiac pathologies.

Doctors consider a low pulse and low blood pressure to be the most severe pathologies - against the background of a constant lack of oxygen, irreversible processes develop in brain cells. The cause of such symptoms is severe hypothermia, starvation, injuries to the cervical and thoracic spine, and poisoning.

A rare pulse with high blood pressure develops against the background of a weakened sinus node, blockade of the heart muscle, and disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland. Bradycardia in hypertension is difficult to treat - medications to lower blood pressure slow down the heart rate even more. In turn, medications that normalize the heart rate can cause an increase in pressure.

With a low pulse, the oxygen supply to all internal organs deteriorates, which leads to increased fatigue, dizziness, confusion, and fainting.

Causes in women and children

In women, a rare pulse often occurs due to hormonal imbalance - at puberty, during pregnancy, during menopause, before menstruation.

Menopause is accompanied by functional bradycardia - changes in heart rate are provoked not by cardiac pathologies, but by a decrease in the level of sex hormones in the blood.

In children, heart rate indicators are much higher and reach adult levels by the age of 15. The main causes of bradycardia are poisoning with toxic substances, congenital pathologies of the heart and brain, infectious diseases, and overwork. The child is more sensitive to changes in climatic zones, which is reflected in the heart rate.

Important! A child may be diagnosed with moderate bradycardia - the pathology occurs with respiratory arrhythmia, and a rare pulse is observed with deep breathing during sleep.

Basic treatment methods

If the pulse has become less frequent and attacks occur frequently, it is necessary to undergo a thorough diagnosis in order to identify the true cause of the pathology. Bradycardia is treated by a cardiologist and a neurologist.

In the treatment of rare pulses, drug therapy, electrical cardiac stimulation are used, and in severe forms, an implant is sewn in, which normalizes the heart rhythm.

Basic medications:

1. Sympathomimetics (Isadrin). The drugs are effective, but have many side effects, so they should only be taken under the constant supervision of a doctor.
2. Caffeine, Askofen - should not be taken by hypertensive patients, but with normal and low blood pressure, 1-2 tablets should be consumed per day.
3. Zelenin drops - take 15 drops twice a day a quarter of an hour before meals, first dilute in 120 ml of warm water.
4. Alupent, Cogitum - means for raising heart rate.

For high blood pressure and a low pulse, inhibitors and diuretics are prescribed. Hypertensive patients should not increase their heart rate with caffeinated drinks or medications or exercise.

Most often, bradycardia is treated in a hospital setting, since the disease requires careful diagnosis and constant monitoring of heart rate parameters.

Therapy with folk remedies

Important! If the pulse rate is below 40 units, folk and traditional medicines should not be used - this condition is very dangerous and urgent medical attention is required.

If a low pulse is caused by emotional stress, nervous disorders, high blood pressure, Corvalol will help. You need to take the medicine three times a day before meals, 20 drops.

What to do during an attack of bradycardia? A hot bath, ear massage, contrast shower, and a little warm-up help normalize your heart rate.

Simple exercises to increase your heart rate at home:

1. Raise both hands up, hold for 10 seconds, lower.
2. Make several sharp squeezing and unclenching movements with your left hand - this exercise helps to cope with pain.
3. Make several smooth turns with your head.
4. In a lying position, do the “scissors” and “bicycle” exercises 10 times.
5. Lying on your back, pull your knees to your chest and clasp your arms. Try to open your arms using knee pressure.

An effective and universal remedy against bradycardia is to mix 220 ml of sugar and sesame seed oil, add 550 g of peeled and chopped walnuts. Place 4 large lemons in a separate container; they should first be cut into small pieces and pour 1 liter of boiling water. Combine both mixtures, take 15 ml of medicine 30 minutes before each meal.

A rare pulse may indicate the presence of serious diseases or be of physiological origin. If attacks appear frequently and are accompanied by a sharp deterioration in well-being, then it is necessary to undergo a full examination in order to timely diagnose and eliminate the cause of the pathology. To prevent a decrease in heart rate, it is necessary to streamline your daily routine - get enough sleep, eat regularly, and devote time to active rest.

Article publication date: 03/04/2017

Article updated date: 12/18/2018

From this article you will learn: is a pulse of 50 normal or pathological, is it dangerous or not. Causes and characteristic symptoms of such a pulse. What to do if the pulse is 50 beats per minute, whether it needs treatment or not.

Pulse 50 – mild bradycardia. This is not an independent pathology, but a symptom of a number of diseases. It is often accompanied by diseases of the heart and thyroid gland, sometimes it occurs as a side effect of certain medications and is recorded during infections.

In some cases, a pulse of 50 per minute is found in people who do not suffer from any diseases, and is regarded as a normal variant and does not require treatment.

In general, this condition is not dangerous.

This problem is treated by a cardiologist, therapist or (less commonly) an endocrinologist. In some cases, bradycardia can be eliminated completely, but in others, for various reasons, it accompanies the patient throughout his life.

Causes of pulse 50

Bradycardia can be physiological (“normal”) and pathological.

1. Physiological bradycardia

Physiological bradycardia is not a symptom of any disease; it is not at all dangerous to health. It may occur in the following situations:

1. If a person is in good physical shape and trained. An athlete's heart gets used to high stress. At rest, it contracts, although infrequently, but strongly - and this is enough to maintain adequate blood circulation in the body.
2. When a person spends a long time in low temperatures. This leads to a decrease in body temperature to 35 degrees or less, and a slowdown in heart rate in such a situation is a protective reaction of the body in order to save energy resources.
3. As a result of stimulation of reflex zones. Stimulation of certain areas of the human body irritates the fibers of the vagus nerve, which leads to a decrease in heart rate. Such areas are, for example, the eyeballs and the lower part of the side surfaces of the neck. A person can stimulate them without even thinking about it - intensively rubbing his eyes, for example, with conjunctivitis, or tightening his tie. Bradycardia that occurs for this reason is short-lived - the heart rate quickly returns to normal.
4. In the process of aging. Elderly people tend to have a decrease in heart rate and pulse. The reason is areas of connective tissue (scientifically called cardiosclerosis) that arise during a person’s life as a result of metabolic disorders or the outcome of myocardial (heart muscle) diseases. They impair the muscle’s ability to both contract and conduct nerve impulses. Also, in the body of older people, metabolic processes slow down, tissues no longer need a large amount of oxygen, which means the need for active heart function is reduced. All these changes underlie the slowing of the heart rate in older people. This bradycardia is a natural process and is constant.

2. Pathological bradycardia

What can lead to the development of a pathological form of bradycardia:

Heart diseases

Most heart diseases are accompanied by increased heart rate – tachycardia. However, bradycardia also occurs. It can be detected in diseases of an inflammatory nature (endocarditis, myocarditis), and those accompanied by hardening of the heart muscle (myocardial infarction, diffuse or focal cardiosclerosis). When the heart becomes sclerotic, myocardial cells are replaced by connective tissue; Roughly speaking, scars of varying sizes form on the heart.

If the pacemaker is affected, it occurs - the node generates impulses at a lower frequency, the heart contracts less frequently. Conduction disturbance (when any part of the conduction pathway is damaged, impulse transmission is impossible) is called blockade.

In some heart diseases, bradycardia is constant, while in others it occurs in attacks.

Reduced thyroid function (hypothyroidism)

The essence of this condition is a decrease in the level of thyroid hormones in the blood - thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which take an active part in metabolic processes, regulate the activity of the heart and maintain the tone of the nervous system. When their level in the blood decreases, bradycardia develops.

Hypothyroidism is accompanied by thyroiditis, congenital underdevelopment of the thyroid gland and some other diseases. It can also develop as a result of a neck injury.

Pathology of the nervous system

The heart is innervated (that is, connected by nerves) by branches of the vagus nerve, which belongs to the parasympathetic nervous system.

Increased tone of the parasympathetic nervous system can cause a decrease in heart rate. Irritation of the vagus nerve can occur with:

• depressive disorders;
• neuroses;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• intracranial hematomas (collections of blood due to traumatic brain injury or hemorrhagic stroke);
• tumor diseases of the organs of the middle part of the chest cavity;
• ulcers of the stomach and duodenum and in patients who have undergone surgery on the organs of the head, neck, mediastinum (middle chest cavity).

Poisoning

One of the symptoms of poisoning with lead compounds, phosphorus, nicotine and narcotic substances is a slowing of the pulse to 50 (its degree directly depends on the amount of the toxic substance that has entered the body).

Diseases of an infectious nature

A number of infections - viral hepatitis, typhoid fever, sepsis - can occur with bradycardia.

Taking certain medications

A decrease in heart rate is a common side effect of many medications (beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, cardiac glycosides, amisulpiride, morphine and others). As a rule, bradycardia occurs as a result of the patient’s failure to comply with the doctor’s recommendations regarding doses and regimen of medications, but it also happens that even the minimum dosage contributes to its development.

Usually this side effect does not pose a threat to the health and life of the patient, but if it occurs, it is still worth informing your doctor about it.

3. Idiopathic bradycardia

In the case when the doctor is unable to diagnose diseases that could cause the pulse to decrease to 50 beats per minute, and the physiological causes of such a pulse are also not determined, bradycardia is called idiopathic. It can occur periodically or be permanent.

Symptoms

In fact, bradycardia itself is a symptom. But it is an objective symptom, which is determined at the stage of examining the patient. Subjectively, many people with a slight slowdown in heart rate (for example, 50 per minute) feel quite satisfactory and have no complaints. This statement applies to both physiological and pathological bradycardia.

However, all people are different, and even a decrease in heart rate to 50 beats per minute in some patients may be accompanied by signs that worsen their quality of life:

• dizziness (systemic blood flow is at least slightly impaired, the heart is not able to maintain arterial blood flow - it decreases; brain cells experience oxygen deficiency, dizziness occurs):
• general weakness (results from a lack of oxygen in the muscles);
• increased fatigue (oxygen starvation of the body leads to rapid depletion of its energy resources, and their replenishment requires a longer time than in healthy people);
• shortness of breath during exertion (with bradycardia, the pumping function of the heart is reduced, which contributes to stagnation of blood in the vessels of the lungs; such vessels cannot maintain gas exchange at the required level; to compensate for this, the brain instructs the lungs to breathe more often);
• chest pain arising due to a lack of oxygen in the body or as a symptom of an underlying heart disease.

Such a patient is pale, and during physical activity there is an excessive increase in pulse rate and shortness of breath.

With pathological bradycardia, other symptoms of a different nature associated with the underlying disease are always found. Conversely, all of the above clinical signs occur not only with bradycardia, but accompany the course of many other diseases. Therefore, if they occur, the patient needs to consult a doctor - a therapist or cardiologist. The specialist will conduct a series of examinations, based on the results of which he will make a final diagnosis.

Diagnostic principles

A person can independently detect the presence of bradycardia by determining the pulse on the radial artery (on the wrist). He may also suspect it if the symptoms listed above are present.

Click on photo to enlarge

A doctor diagnoses diseases that could lead to a decrease in heart rate. First of all, he will listen to the patient’s complaints, medical history (when the complaints arose, whether they are constant or occur periodically, how the patient alleviates his condition) and life (past illnesses, working conditions, and so on). Then he will conduct an examination, palpation (determine the pulse), auscultation (listening with a phonendoscope) and percussion of the heart (tapping to determine the boundaries).

Based on the data received, the doctor will prescribe an examination for the patient, which may include:

1. electrocardiography;
2. phonocardiography;
3. daily (Holter) ECG monitoring;
4. Ultrasound of the heart;
5. determination of the level of thyroid hormones in the blood;
6. determining the presence of toxins in the blood;
7. a general blood test and some other studies (depending on the pathology that the doctor suspects).

When the cause of bradycardia is identified, the doctor will prescribe treatment for the patient.

Treatment methods

Let's start with the fact that according to the laws of medicine, we treat not the symptoms, but the disease.

Physiological bradycardia is a variant of the norm, which means that therapeutic measures are not indicated for it.

Bradycardia is pathological, not accompanied by any subjective sensations, and does not worsen the patient’s condition, and is subject to dynamic monitoring.

For a patient whose pulse is 50 beats per minute, the doctor will not prescribe drugs that increase its frequency, but this does not mean that the disease that led to the slowing of the pulse does not need to be treated. That is, with pathological bradycardia, the doctor’s primary goal is to eliminate its cause - the underlying disease. When treating such a patient, medications may be prescribed:

• anticholinergics (atropine);
• isadrin;
• levothyroxine (for reduced thyroid function);
• antibiotics (if the patient has myocarditis);
• adaptogens (medicines based on Schisandra chinensis, ginseng, aralia, eleutherococcus);
• drugs that improve metabolic processes in the heart (thiotriazoline, meldonium).

Forecast

The prognosis for bradycardia depends directly on why it occurred. Physiological bradycardia does not in any way affect the quality and duration of human life.

Pathological bradycardia with a pulse rate of 50 beats per minute is not dangerous in itself, but the disease that led to it can significantly worsen the quality of his life.

To prevent this, it is important to diagnose diseases at an early stage and follow your doctor's recommendations regarding their treatment.

The pulse is a jerky oscillation of the arterial wall caused by the release of blood into the arteries when the heart contracts. During normal heart function, the pulse rate corresponds to the heart rate.

Normal heart rate values ​​are considered to be between 60 and 90 beats per minute. A heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute is characterized as a slow pulse or bradycardia (it would be more correct to talk about a low pulse rate, but the expression low pulse has taken root in everyday life). Most often, a decrease in heart rate is not a cause for concern; on the contrary, it somewhat reduces the load on the heart muscle. But severe bradycardia (pulse rate below 50 beats per minute) can be evidence of various diseases, and in itself provoke the development of clinical symptoms that are unpleasant for the patient.

What reasons can cause low heart rate?

Changes in the cardiac muscle - myocardium, associated with the replacement of muscle cells with scar tissue and affecting the main “generator” of contractile impulses of the heart, the so-called. sinus node. This condition is referred to as sick sinus syndrome (SSNS).

A common cause of low heart rate is irregular heartbeat, when not all heart contractions are strong enough to be felt at the wrist.

It happens:

• with frequent interruptions, extrasystoles;
• atrial fibrillation;
• heart blocks.

Bradycardia can also be caused by:

• prolonged exposure to low temperatures;
• increased activity of the parasympathetic nervous system;
• an increase in intracranial pressure that occurs with cerebral edema, tumors, hemorrhage in the brain tissue and membranes, as well as meningitis;
• certain medications, such as beta blockers or antiarrhythmics;
• intoxication with various chemicals;
• dysfunction of the thyroid gland, for example with hypothyroidism;
• Infectious diseases.

In addition, a decrease in heart rate is common in trained athletes and young healthy people who are frequently exposed to physical activity. Bradycardia in such categories of people is considered a physiological norm if it does not manifest itself with any pathological symptoms.

What can slow heart rate cause?

Minor heart rhythm disturbances may not cause a person to experience any subjective complaints or sensations at all.

But a significant decrease in heart rate, less than 40 beats per minute, can manifest itself with symptoms such as:

• general weakness;
• Decrease or, conversely, increase in pressure;
• persistent dizziness;
• the appearance of cold sweat;
• difficulty breathing;
• fainting states.

In such situations, it is necessary to undergo examination by a cardiologist. A consultation with doctors at the CELT clinic will guarantee that all studies will be carried out as quickly as possible. And the professionalism of our specialists will allow us to accurately determine the cause of the decrease in heart rate and, if necessary, prescribe adequate treatment in a timely manner (link to the cardiologists’ schedule).

How is a low pulse diagnosed?

As mentioned above, the pulse rate reflects the heart rate. Therefore, a more accurate method of recording heart rate is electrocardiography. But if the doctor is faced with the task of only counting the pulse, and not assessing other parameters of cardiac activity, then a simpler way is palpation (palpation) of the superficial arteries of the human body. This method does not require any special training or equipment, so you can get results immediately.

ECG monitoring using a miniature recorder is even more informative. The method is also called Holter monitoring. Continuous recording of the heart rhythm makes it possible to most accurately determine the characteristics and causes of a slow heart rate.

There are several points on the human body where the pulse can be measured by palpation. The most popular method is to palpate the radial artery on the inside of the wrist. It must be remembered that it is necessary to count the number of beats on both hands, since a weakening pulse in only one of them can be a sign of a serious pathology of the cardiovascular system.

Treatment for bradycardia

It is necessary to treat not a decrease in heart rate (bradycardia), but to find out the cause of a rare pulse. Doctors at the CELT clinic know in which cases medical intervention is necessary. Therefore, the issue of diagnosis and identifying the cause comes to the fore here. In a situation where bradycardia is severe, accompanied by loss of consciousness, there is a risk of sudden cardiac arrest and there is a threat to the patient's life, we recommend implantation of a pacemaker.

The resting heart rate of a healthy adult varies between 60 and 80 beats per minute. A constant heart rate of 55 beats per minute or lower in the absence of objective reasons may indicate cardiac sinus node dysfunction. When the pulse is less than 60 beats per minute, bradycardia develops. It is important to diagnose the disease, determine the root causes and undergo treatment.

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Heart rate 50: good or bad?

A slight constant decrease in heart rate while feeling well can be observed in athletes, and this indicates that they are in good athletic shape. At rest, during sleep (in its deep phase) or in the cold, the frequency decreases, but then returns to normal. It is believed that the lowest frequency occurs at night, and the highest in the evening. The pulse rate depends on age - it decreases with aging, in older people it is minimal, on gender - in women it is higher, but in late pregnancy it can decrease due to the pressure of the uterus on the inferior genital vein. But if the frequency persistently deviates from the norm by more than 10%, and a person’s pulse is recorded at 50 beats/min. and less, this indicates the development of pathology.

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Why is a decrease in rhythm dangerous?

A constantly slow pulse - less than 45 beats - leads to a lack of supply of oxygen and other vital substances to the organs, which leads to malfunctions in their functioning. A pulse of 45 or lower in a person can provoke oxygen starvation of the brain. If the pulse is low - less than 40 beats per minute, then the heart may stop. This is the lower threshold. Most often this happens at night, and in the absence of immediate help the person may die.

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Symptoms characterizing bradycardia

Bradycardia is most often accompanied by headaches and dizziness.

Impaired blood supply to organs during bradycardia leads to an imbalance in the functioning of the entire body. Well-being and performance deteriorate, endurance decreases, drowsiness and profuse sweating appear, even in comfortable temperature conditions. All these changes cannot be ignored, because the consequences can be unpredictable. Violations of the pulse and heart rhythm are characterized by the following signs:

• constant headaches and dizziness;
• fatigue, weakness;
• nausea, vomiting;
• frequent fainting.

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What are the reasons for the development of the disorder?

The number of pulse beats may be less than the number of heartbeats. In this case, they speak of a pulse deficit. The reason for this is a weak heartbeat, in which an insufficient amount of blood enters the aorta, and its wave does not reach the peripheral artery. If the results of the cardiogram confirm the presence of pathology, when the number of heart contractions has decreased and the intervals between them have increased, this means that there is dysfunction of the cardiac sinus node. A pulse of 50 beats per minute is often caused by the following reasons:

• aging;
• heart diseases (coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, endocarditis and myocarditis);
• disruption of the thyroid gland;
• increased potassium levels in the blood;
• low blood pressure;
• increased intracranial pressure;
• Botkin's disease;
• taking certain medications;
• intoxication;
• neuroses;
• fasting.

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Diagnostic methods

Holter monitoring is used for more accurate diagnosis.

To diagnose bradycardia, the pulse is first considered. If the resting pulse is low at any time of the day, the patient undergoes an electrocardiogram. But an ECG is not always able to detect this disease due to the inconsistent pulse rhythm. Then they do Holter monitoring: they put a small recorder of electrical signals from the heart on the patient, and he wears it throughout the day. It is possible that laboratory tests, coronography, ultrasound examination of the heart and atropine tests will be needed. If there is no cardiac pathology, the cardiologist refers the patient to other specialists for consultation. In case of diseases of the nervous or endocrine system, as well as pathologies of organs that could cause a decrease in pressure, they are treated.

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What to do if the pulse is 55?

The goal of treatment is to increase the heart rate to such a level that blood can flow to all organs to ensure their normal functioning. Drugs are often used to increase blood pressure. After a thorough comprehensive examination by specialists, depending on the causes of heart rhythm disturbances, patients are prescribed the following medications:

When the conduction system of the heart is damaged, the patient may have a pacemaker implanted. It is placed under the skin to correct heart rhythm and is most often used in patients over 65 years of age. A pacemaker is also placed in cases where the patient is taking medications for another disease, and they reduce the heart rate. If severe forms of bradycardia are not treated, the patient may lose consciousness and be injured at any time, and a drop in heart rate below 40 can be fatal.

Patients with an implanted pacemaker should not be near a strong electromagnetic field, because its influence may interfere with the operation of the device.

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Treatment without drugs

Bradycardia is often treated with Zelenin drops, which include valerian, lily of the valley, belladonna and peppermint oil, or hawthorn tincture. They increase blood pressure and heart rate and stimulate blood vessels. They are also used to increase the effectiveness of the medications listed above. To improve the condition, you can use the following folk remedies:

• ginseng root;
• Eleutherococcus;
• Aralia Manchurian;
• Chinese lemongrass;
• sweet tea.

If a person’s pulse is recorded at 50 beats per minute, but he feels normal, and the cardiogram did not show significant deviations in the functioning of the heart, then no treatment can be carried out. It is enough to control the frequency of pulsations, adhere to a gentle regimen and diet, do exercises that strengthen the heart vessels, drink vitamins and green tea, do not drink alcohol, and stop smoking.

The pulse is the rhythmic fluctuation of blood volume inside the vessels. which are caused by myocardial contraction. They are determined by the pressure in the vessels during 1 cardiac cycle. The manifestation of this process occurs as shocks during palpation of large vessels.

• Normal pulse 60-80 beats/min. This indicator should be measured in a supine position and mainly after sleep, in the morning.
• We must not forget that the pulse is affected such a circumstance as age indicators.

  For example, in infants it can be 140 beats per minute. A low heart rate in an elderly person reaches approximately 65 beats per minute.

  The highest rates occur in children of preschool age, often equal to approximately 100 beats per minute. Over time, the pulse decreases, and in old age its characteristics will become lowest. But experts have found that before death it can rise again and reach 160 beats per minute.

• The pulse has the property of changing taking into account your physical and emotional state. For example, when running and other loads there is an increase; Stressful situations and other emotional shocks cause high heart rate characteristics.

What heart rate is considered low?

Low heart rate is a fairly popular phenomenon caused by a malfunction of the heartbeat.

Experts believe that with pulse characteristics less than 55 beats per minute there are all signs to diagnose a pathology in a person that is associated with malfunctions of the heart. Such dysfunctions are otherwise called bradycardia.

Low pulse and low blood pressure- a clear symptom of bradycardia. Basically, a decrease to 50 beats per minute can be seen with low blood pressure.

In addition, these indicators associated with physiological factors: for example, it has the property of decreasing in a calm state or during deep sleep. This process can be observed during a period of prolonged exposure to a cold place or sudden climate change. When the pulse decreases without objective reasons, you should consult a doctor.

Decreased heart rate up to 50 or 40 beats per minute, indicates disturbances in the functioning of the heart, therefore, while observing this symptom, you should ask a cardiologist for recommendations for subsequent diagnosis.

First, you need to make a cardiogram of the heart. When the diagnosis establishes that the pulse corresponds to the heart rate, that is, the characteristics of these 2 categories are identical, then there are grounds to declare that a person has bradycardia.

In another article we talk a lot about the causes of low blood pressure and increased heart rate.

Many of our readers actively use a well-known technique based on natural ingredients to treat ARRHYTHMIA and heart problems. We recommend that you check out… » Symptoms of low heart rate

A low pulse can also appear in the absence of symptoms, for example, if this is a physiological feature of a person. Then there is no reason to worry - such symptoms do not pose a threat to life. Minor deviations in heart rhythm may not cause a person any discomfort or complaints.

When the pulse becomes very small (less than 40 beats/min), the following pathology appears:

• Poor sleep, irritability.
• Malfunctions of the cardiovascular system.
• Lethargy.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Hypertension or hypotension.
• Dizziness.
• Cold sweat.
• Nausea.
• Failures in coordination.
• Unconscious state.

The likely consequences of bradycardia may include persistent fainting, heart failure, and in critical situations, sudden cardiac arrest. In this regard, it is necessary to detect the symptoms of such a pathological phenomenon in time and consult a cardiologist.

Bradycardia is not always provoked by heart disease; popular causes include dysfunction in the endocrine system, hypotension, intoxication, diseases of the nervous system, infectious diseases, and high intracranial pressure.

Causes of low heart rate

Changes in the myocardium are caused by the replacement of muscle cells with scar tissue and affect the main “generator” of contraction of cardiac impulses, the sinus node. This phenomenon is referred to as sick sinus syndrome.

Often the cause of bradycardia is considered to be irregular functioning of the heart, when some of the heart contractions are not strong enough to be felt at the wrist.

This situation could be:

• during constant failures, extrasystoles;
• atrial fibrillation. Here you can read about pulse deficit in atrial fibrillation.
• heart block.

Low heart rate provokes:

• prolonged exposure to low temperatures;
• increased activity of the parasympathetic nervous system;
• development of intracranial pressure, which occurs during cerebral edema, neoplasms, hemorrhage in the brain and membranes, and meningitis;
• certain medications, for example, beta blockers or antiarrhythmic drugs;
• intoxication with various chemicals;
• interruptions in the functioning of the thyroid gland, for example, during the period of hypothyroidism;
• infectious diseases.

In addition, a decrease in heart rate can often be observed in people involved in sports and at a young age who are regularly exposed to physical activity. A low pulse in this category of people is the norm when no pathological symptoms occur.

If a child has a pronounced low pulse, this is a signal of insufficient blood supply. In this situation, you need to consult a cardiologist.

What does a low heart rate mean?

Bradycardia indicates disturbances in heart rhythm due to disturbances in the functioning of the myocardium. There are various reasons, the most popular being hypotension.

The development of heart pathology can be determined using a cardiogram. It can develop due to dysfunction of the sinus node, which produces an electrical impulse.

The result of this process will be a poor supply of organs and tissues with oxygen, substances that are required for proper functioning.

This leads to various malfunctions in the functioning of internal systems and organs.

Bradycardia initially does not bother the patient, but over time, other traditional signs of low pulse are added to it:

• constant dizziness and headache;
• general lethargy and rapid fatigue;
• nausea and gag reflex;
• fainting states.

When there is a lack of oxygen, fainting, dizziness, headaches and low pulse occur can become an extremely dangerous condition.

Changes in the pulse provoke endocrine pathology, psychological stressful situations, various thyroid diseases and the use of hormonal drugs.

A slow pulse is considered a companion to coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension, congenital and acquired defects, and myocardial infarction.

Low heart rate means a decrease in heart rate below 60 beats per minute; a normal heart rate is 60–80 beats. A decrease in heart rate to 50–55 beats or less indicates the development of the disease and is called bradycardia.

Causes of low heart rate

A low pulse (45 or less beats/min.) may be a manifestation of illness in the body. The reasons for this are related to the form of bradycardia. Thus, extracardiac bradycardia occurs in the following cases:

• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• neurosis;
• high blood pressure, when certain antihypertensive drugs are used to treat it;
• brain tumors;
• meningitis;
• brain contusion;
• hypothyroidism;
• fasting;
• Meniere's syndrome;
• kidney colic.

Excessive pressure on the carotid artery also causes a low heart rate.

Organic bradycardia occurs mainly due to cardiosclerosis or myocardial infarction. If the sinus node is weak, the pulse frequency is insufficient. If the conduction of impulses from the atrium to the ventricle is disrupted, they speak of heart block. In this case, the frequency of its contractions may decrease to 55–56 per minute.

The following drugs also cause a weak pulse:

1. Quinidine.
2. Cardiac glycosides.
3. Beta blockers.
4. Morphine.
5. Calcium channel blockers.
6. Some antiarrhythmic drugs.
7. Sympatholytics.

Canceling these medications (only as directed by a doctor) returns the heart to normal rhythm and additional measures are usually not required.

Finally, a low and rare pulse, often below 40 beats/min, develops due to intoxication. The reason for this phenomenon may be:

• uremia, that is, poisoning of the body with protein breakdown products;
• viral hepatitis;
• sepsis;
• phosphate intoxication;
• increased levels of calcium or potassium in the blood.

A decrease in heart rate to 55–52 per minute occurs in trained people. Athletes have a heart rate of 45 beats/min. In addition, a decrease in heart rate even up to 40 beats occurs in the following cases:

• exposure to cold;
• aging of the body (in older people);
• smoking.

If the reasons for the decrease in heart rate cannot be established, they speak of idiopathic bradycardia.

The reasons for the decrease in heart rate can only be determined by a doctor. To find out the reason for the low pulse, the patient must undergo all types of examinations.

Signs of a low heart rate

A slight decrease in heart rate occurs almost imperceptibly for a person. This also applies to cases where the frequency of 50–60 beats is a physiological feature. Its further decrease, less than 50 beats, can affect the patient’s well-being. He feels dizzy, tired, drowsy, and irritable.

If a rare heart rate (50 beats or below) is caused by malfunctions of the organ itself, then a person experiences the following symptoms:

• dizziness;
• headache;
• semi-fainting state;
• chest pain;
• dyspnea.

A decrease in heart rate to 42 or even less beats per minute is dangerous to health. It can cause oxygen starvation of the brain. The symptoms of this condition depend on whether the person suffers from heart disease or whether he has a thyroid dysfunction. Thus, if the thyroid gland is not functioning properly, the patient may experience muscle weakness, trembling fingers, and significant weight loss without changing the diet.

A weak pulse (48 beats), combined with heart disease, is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• fatigue after physical activity, which does not go away even during long rest;
• pain in the chest and limbs;
• drowsiness;
• sweating;
• swelling in the limbs.

When the pulse is as rare as 50 beats or less with low blood pressure, it will be accompanied by severe weakness. It typically occurs in the morning, when sleep does not bring a pronounced feeling of rest. Often a person’s memory and vision are impaired, and his thinking becomes confused.

Impaired cerebral circulation leads to the development of symptoms of oxygen starvation of this organ. In severe cases, cerebral edema is possible. In this case, pronounced dysfunctions of this organ occur, associated with the loss of reflexes. The most dangerous complication of cerebral edema is coma.

A decrease in heart rate to 30–35 beats per minute threatens cardiac arrest. In such cases, resuscitation measures are required.

Diagnosis and treatment

The easiest way to determine a low heart rate at home is to count it. In the hospital this is done more accurately by performing an electrocardiogram. ECG monitoring using a mini-recorder provides more information about the reasons for the decrease in heart rate. It is necessary to conduct a biochemical blood test, test it for hormones, and also identify signs of the inflammatory process.

Ultrasound examination of the heart gives good results. To assess the increase in the frequency of organ contractions, load bicycle ergometry is used.

Treatment of low heart rate is carried out in a hospital setting. In case of severe clinical manifestations, in order to increase the heart rate, the patient is prescribed:

1. Atropine intramuscularly or intravenously.
2. Isadrin (drip, in glucose solution).
3. Isoproterenol in a dropper.
4. Alupent.

If the signs of a low heart rate are not pronounced, the patient will be helped to increase the pulse to a normal level by taking belladonna, eleutherococcus or ginseng. It's good to drink a cup of coffee. However, with atherosclerosis, Raynaud's disease, high blood pressure, and coronary heart disease, the frequency of its contractions cannot be increased in this way.

Diet also helps with low heart rate. People with this problem benefit from algae, fish oil, nuts, and dishes with pepper. If the pulse is not sharply reduced, a foot bath or applying mustard plaster to the collar area can increase it.

Prevention of a decrease in heart rate consists, first of all, of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is necessary to give up alcohol and smoking, and also move more. Healthy sleep will help increase your heart rate. The diet should include more plant-based products. To strengthen the body, you should spend more time in the air.

Paying close attention to your health helps you avoid problems with your heart rate.

From this article you will learn: what does a low pulse mean with high blood pressure, its causes. In what cases should the patient's condition be regarded as critical? What to do to normalize the disturbed indicators.

• Causes of this condition
• How dangerous is this?
• Necessary examinations
• How you can help: treatment
• Forecast

An increase in pressure of 85–90% is accompanied by an acceleration of the heartbeat. Only in 10–15% of cases of hypertension is it normal or even slow. Low heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute. The peculiarity is that, despite the low frequency, in people with high blood pressure (more than 140/90 mm Hg), it can be easily felt even on the arteries of the forearm.

Such dissociation of these indicators of the cardiovascular system can bother patients in different ways. When the heart rate drops to 55 beats per minute, there may be no complaints or threats. A more pronounced decrease is dangerous for cerebral circulation disorders and even life-threatening. The higher the pressure and the lower the pulse, the more pronounced the disorders in the body.

You can normalize the changed indicators. Treatment is carried out by a cardiologist, internist or family doctor.

Causes of this condition

The normal pulse rate (heart rate) range is 60 to 90 beats per minute. If their numbers are lower, this condition is called bradycardia. High blood pressure (hypertension) – blood pressure numbers more than 140/90 mm Hg. Art. Pulse is a reflection of heart contractions, so their frequency should be the same.

Normally, the body’s adaptive reactions are configured in such a way that when pressure increases, the heart rate and pulse should simultaneously increase. Dissociation (multidirectionality) between these indicators, when the pressure rises and the pulse decreases, indicates a failure in the regulation of the cardiovascular system.

This can be due to both physiological (natural) reasons and pathological conditions (diseases). They are described in the table.

Constantly slow, rhythmic and uninterrupted pulse with a frequency of 60–55 beats per minute, if the patient’s condition is satisfactory and there are no complaints	Rhythmic or intermittent pulse with a frequency of less than 55, there are characteristic complaints and symptoms, and the general condition is impaired
Long-term (years) presence of arterial hypertension People doing sports Decreased heart rate at night or in cool climates Taking drugs and substances that slow the heartbeat	Severe myocardial diseases (myocarditis, ischemic disease, heart attack) Heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmia) Vegetative-vascular dystonia Diseases of the endocrine system (thyroid and adrenal glands, pituitary gland) Sick sinus syndrome

How dangerous is this?

An increase in pressure with a simultaneous slowdown in the heart rate (pulse) disrupts blood circulation in the body. The vital organs that suffer the most are the brain and heart. The mechanisms of their destruction are as follows:

• Against the background of high pressure, arterial vessels spasm (narrow the lumen).
• Low contractile activity of the heart is accompanied by a slowdown in the speed and intensity of blood flow.
• All organs and tissues are poorly supplied with blood, which disrupts their normal functioning.

A combined increase in blood pressure (more than 160/100 mm Hg) with a low pulse (less than 50) can pose a double threat if the condition is due to pathological causes. With such hemodynamics (blood circulation), myocardial nutrition sharply decreases, stroke and heart attack, worsening slow rhythm and even cardiac arrest are possible.

In the case of natural (physiological) minor differences in these indicators, there are no serious threats to health and life, since the body is able to compensate for these deviations. But even bradycardia in the range of 55–60 beats per minute, which occurs periodically without obvious reasons, should be a reason to contact a specialist - a cardiologist - and a full examination.

Possible symptoms and manifestations

A decrease in heart rate below normal is not always accompanied by complaints due to arterial hypertension (high blood pressure) - about 15% of patients are able to perform their usual work. Severe deviations from the norm not only disrupt the general condition, but also threaten life. Possible symptoms are described in the table.

In order to assess the extent to which the patient’s condition is impaired, it is necessary to measure the pulse and pressure. Mechanical tonometers show only blood pressure, while electronic ones show both indicators. You can count the pulse by placing your fingers on any artery (this could be the inner surface of the forearm or shoulder, or the femoral-inguinal area).

Pulse measurement locations

In patients with a pulse less than 50 beats per minute, loss of consciousness, acute cerebrovascular accident and stroke, heart attack, pulmonary edema, sudden cardiac arrest and death are possible.

Necessary examinations

Mandatory diagnostics for a decrease in heart rate combined with hypertension includes the following:

1. Examination by a specialist - cardiologist, therapist or family doctor.
2. Electrocardiography (ECG).
3. Ultrasound of the heart (echocardiography).
4. Holter monitoring (daily ECG recording and pressure recording).

Additionally, general, biochemical and blood tests for the level of hormones of the thyroid and other glands, extended ultrasound and x-ray examinations may be required.

Diagnostic methods for low heart rate, which is combined with hypertension. How you can help: treatment

Only a doctor can prescribe treatment for hypertensive patients with a low pulse. It is selected individually, taking into account the cause of this condition. But everyone should know what to do to provide emergency care. General measures that can help or harm during an attack are described in the table.

Medicines for hypertensive patients with low heart rate

If even a slight slowdown in pulse and increased blood pressure are accompanied by characteristic complaints and disturb the general condition of the patients, it is necessary to call an ambulance or take the patient to the nearest hospital. Only after examination can the correct treatment be prescribed. To eliminate these deviations you may need:

• constant use of blood pressure-lowering drugs (ACE inhibitors, diuretics, some calcium channel blockers);
• placement of a pacemaker;
• surgery.

Modern technologies make it possible to restore even such paradoxical disorders as a decrease in heart rate with high blood pressure. The prognosis depends on the cause of such deviations and the state of the cardiovascular system. Timely emergency care during an attack saves the lives of 95–97% of patients.

Pulse is a palpable vibration of the vascular walls that is caused by the contraction of the heart muscle and the passage of a certain volume of blood. The norm is a pulse rate that ranges from sixty to eighty beats per minute. In this case, it is better to measure the parameter in the morning, soon after waking up. The values ​​of the indicator depend on a number of reasons, including the person’s age. So, the number is 140, while in older people it drops to 60 - 65. The pulse quickens during physical activity, emotional experiences, fear, increased blood pressure, and some diseases.

It is generally accepted that a healthy person always has a weak pulse, and the lower the indicator, the better. In principle, there is some truth in this statement, but you just need to take into account that it is only true if the indicator does not go beyond the norm. So, of course, it is easier for the body when the pulse frequency is sixty rather than eighty, but values ​​that do not reach the lower limit most often indicate the development of pathology.

Bradycardia, in which both the pulse and heart rate (HR) are excessively low, comes in several types:

• Absolute- Heart rate does not change depending on external conditions, and the pulse rate is constantly low.
• Relative- Heart rate does not increase sufficiently during physical activity or when body temperature rises. This condition is typical for professional athletes and occurs with traumatic brain injuries and diseases such as meningitis, typhus, etc.
• Moderate- observed in children suffering from respiratory arrhythmia, with a low pulse rate detected during sleep or during deep, measured breathing.
• Extracardiac vagal- characteristic of neurological disorders, kidney diseases, diseases of other internal organs, but not cardiopathologies.

Why does your heart rate drop?

The causes of bradycardia can be physiological, when a slowdown in the pulse rate is a natural reaction of the body to changes in external conditions and returns to normal in a short time. These factors include:

• Hypothermia - if a person is in cold water for a long time or freezes in the cold.
• Stressful situations.
• Increased physical activity.
• Poor nutrition - with constant consumption of insufficient amounts of food, poor diet, lack of nutritional compounds.
• Failure to comply with the specified medication regimen (especially in the case of an overdose of antipyretics), long-term use of β-blockers.
• Hypoxia caused by low physical activity and insufficient exposure to fresh air.
• Consumption of alcoholic beverages and drugs.

It can be due to both physiological reasons and the development of a pathological process. In this case, changes in the indicator are not a separate disease, but a symptom of the underlying disorder, and it can be normalized only after the cause is eliminated.

Pathological bradycardia is one of the symptoms of such disorders:

• Cardiopathologies - ischemia, myocarditis, cardiosclerosis, post-infarction condition, atherosclerotic lesion of the coronary arteries.
• Diseases of the nervous system.
• Endocrine disorders.
• Severe intoxication.
• Infectious and inflammatory disorders.
• Severe pain syndrome.
• Traumatic lesions in the chest and neck area.
• Hypotension.
• Excessive stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system.
• Massive bleeding.
• Age-related cardiac disorders.

How does the violation manifest itself?

A rare pulse indicates improper functioning of the heart muscle, disruption of the normal rhythm, and disturbances in impulse conduction in the sinus node. As a result, the intensity of blood flow decreases, internal organs and tissues receive insufficient amounts of oxygen and nutritional compounds, which leads to the development of hypoxia and a number of diseases.

With absolute bradycardia, a person does not experience painful symptoms and may not even suspect the presence of such a disorder for many years. Other types of the disorder differ in the following manifestations:

• Frequent severe headache and dizziness.
• Fainting state.
• Nausea, attacks of vomiting.
• High fatigue, weakness.
• Decreased blood pressure.
• Arrhythmic shock.
• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath.
• Decreased short-term memory, inability to concentrate, absent-mindedness.

How to treat the disorder?

Now let's figure out what to do if your heart rate is low. Firstly, it must be borne in mind that treatment is carried out only when a person experiences pain or bradycardia is caused by some disease.

If weak blood pulsation is due to the influence of negative external factors, then they need to be eliminated. In severe cases, the doctor takes into account the characteristics of the underlying disease and uses the following medications:

• Izadrin.
• Atropine.
• Isoproterenol.
• Alupent.

In case of contraindication to taking Izadrin or Atropine, the patient is prescribed a tablet form of Ephedrine hydrochloride or Ipratropium bromide.

It is carried out only in case of diagnosing a violation of the conduction of impulses in the heart. If the parameter decreases as a result of other disorders, then treatment is aimed at eliminating the underlying disease, after which the pulse rate returns to normal over time.

If the cause of a severe form of bradycardia is a violation of cardiac conduction, the patient is urgently admitted to the clinic, where the necessary treatment is carried out aimed at restoring cardiac activity. If drug therapy is ineffective, cardiac pacing is used, in which a device that normalizes heart rate is transplanted under the patient's skin.

If the painful symptoms are mild, tinctures of ginseng, guarana, eleutherococcus, and belladonna-based preparations are effective. In addition, energy drinks containing caffeine, strong coffee or tea normalize the condition. It is also recommended to apply mustard plaster to the chest area or take a warm foot bath for fifteen minutes.

Folk remedies

To normalize a slow pulse, the following traditional medicines are used:

• Add half a kilo of chopped walnuts, two hundred and fifty grams of sugar, four lemons cut into small pieces and a liter of boiling water to one hundred and fifty milliliters of sesame oil. Take one tablespoon in the morning, afternoon and evening before meals.
• Mix equal parts of radish juice and honey, take one teaspoon three times a day.
• Pour sixty grams of dry pine branches with three hundred milliliters of vodka and leave for ten days. Thirty minutes before meals, take twenty drops of the product.
• Rosehip decoction - boil ten berries in half a liter of water for fifteen minutes. Cool the mixture, pass the berries through a sieve and add three teaspoons of honey. Before each meal, drink half a glass of the decoction.
• Dilute forty drops of motherwort juice in a tablespoon of water.